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STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
School of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
C.S.F.R.
e-mail address: CAROLINA@CSEARN.BITNET
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 19, Friday, March 20, 1992.
THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK /from March 11-18/
The background of 14th March 1939
We want to offer you a short historical description of a tragic event
in the common history of Czechs and Slovaks. The autonomistic efforts,
appearing after Munich, are related to Hlinka's national party /HSLS/.
The party was founded in 1918 after the origination of the Czechoslovak
republic. The party behaved loyally towards the state at first. Andrej
Hlinka, a Catholic priest and the leader of this party, took part in the
creation of the Martin Declaration of October 30, 1938. The declaration,
created by the representatives of Slovakian intellectuals, called for
a Czechoslovak nation. It had only formal importance. Hlinka's party
wanted to keep the Pittsburgh Agreement. The Agreement was signed by the
representatives of Czech and Slovaks in the USA and by our movement of
resistance abroad on May 30, 1918. The Agreement stated: "Slovakia will
have its own administration, parliament and court". But in fact Czechs
were coming to Slovakia in the 20's to keep the state's administration,
mail, police and education system in operation because there were bad
conditions for Slovaks to do it themselves. Some sources say that from
the population of 2 million only thousands considered themselves to be
Slovak. The fear of autonomy was based on the separatism of the German
minority. Czechoslovakia (A single state comprised of the two
nationalities of Czechs and Slovaks) would have been a protection
against German expansionism. The Slovaks didn't forgive Masaryk his
concept of Czechoslovakism yet.
The situation was visibly changed by historical events. Czech border
areas became a part of the German empire through the Munchen Agreement.
A few days later the Prague government nominated the Slovak government
and its chairman, J. Tiso. Hlinka's party, the initiators, gave space
for other political parties in the beginning. The first decision of the
Slovak government was to expell Czechs from the territory of Slovakia.
The period of the "Second republic", Czecho-Slovakia, started. The
situation in Slovakia was totalitarian. Only Hlinka's party was allowed,
other parties were dissolved. The state became legal after November 22,
1938 with Constitutional Law on autonomy of Slovakia. The central bodies
still had a lot of power. Hlinka's party won with 98% of the votes in
the elections in December. The Slovak government developed contacts with
Germany. However Hitler said that he was going to liquid the rest of
Czecho-Slovakia, the leaders of HSLS defended Czechoslovakia.
The final decision was made on March 13, 1939. Tiso got in Berlin
a guarantee of the integrity of Slovak territory. The condition was to
declare Slovakia an independent state. Otherwise Slovakia would have
been divided between the Third Reich, Hungary and Poland. (Hungary had
already occupied the south Slovakian territories and Sub-carpathian
Russia.) The independent Slovak state, with Tiso as president, was
declared by the Slovak parliament one day later. The German army started
the occupation of Bohemia on March, 15.
A new constitution from July 1939 finished the step over to
a clerical-fascism system. The constitution said that high positions
could be occupied only by members of the leading party. The Slovakian
state, taking part actively in the army operations against the alliance,
is guilty of mass Jewish deportations. Sixty thousand Jews were deported
to the concentration camps in 1942. That's why the Slovak president was
put on the list of war criminals according to the Nuremburg Agreement.
He was sentenced to capital punishment in Czechoslovakia in 1947.
From March to March
We were afraid of the celebration of the 53rd anniversary of the Slovak
state's declaration. Last year Vaclav Havel came to the celebration, and
his personal guards had difficulties to protect him against the furious
crowd. The differnce of attitudes was clearly seen: the Czech press
wrote about the aggressive response to Havel's try for a dialog; the
Slovakian press considered that Havel's walk was a provocation.
The federal representatives coming to Bratislava in October to
celebrate the common state were "awarded" by volleys of raw eggs (see
Carolina issue number 1). But last year brought some changes too: the
Slovak prime minister, V. Meciar, was recalled. Jan Carnogursky,
a Christian-Democrat, came into his position. The flucuations of Slovak
policy changed to serious negotiations. The Czech side, especially
right-wing liberals from the Civil Democratic Alliance, made Slovaks
provide clearer statements.
Before March
Slovak political parties refused to take part in celebrations of Slovak
independence. The approach of the Civic Democratic Union- the coalition
of the Public against Violence party and the Democratic party did not
agree at all. Both parties are the members of the government but because
of their agreement with the federal state they have only a little
popularity. The Slovakian left-wing chose a compromise: the regime was
bad, but the state existed and Czechs should legally accept it. A little
surprise was the approach of the Slovak national party that announced
the remembering reception only. Only the extremist Slovak National Unity
party took part in public celebrations. The party is led by S. Panis,
a former pop-singer. He is a member of Parliament.
He invited John Major for celebrations as well. Most of the invited
personalities didn't answer or strictly refused, as president Havel did.
In March
The demonstration in Bratislava was important for Czechs. All the main
newspapers sent reporters. The reporter from Carolina went to Bratislava
too, so we can offer you an original report. Stanislav Panis called his
action "For independent Slovakia- without discussions". The main part of
the action had to be a demonstration at "Andrej Hlinka square" (still
the Square of the Slovak National Uprising). The action started in the
morning when 300 people gathered at Tiso's grave. The roman-catholic
parson gave the speech. He accused Czechs of murdering Tiso. The
participants agreed by shouting: "poor Tiso!", "We don't forget", "Benes
is a murder!". The speaker called for the independence of Slovakia
reached by democratic and parliamentary means. In the same way, the
Slovak state was founded, he said. The same request was repeated often
on March 14. From the Czech point of view it is a civil request and we
don't have to expect a "Yugoslavian-style civil war". The people marched
to the center. The crowd consisted mostly of retired and older people.
Young members of the skin-head movement carried flags and pictures of
Tiso. The traditional place of the gatherings of the Slovak National
Unit is the central square. Demonstrations after the November revolution
took place in this square. There were about 3000 people at about 1
o'clock p.m. (that is about five time less than last year). There was an
interesting stage, complete with the Slovakian symbol - three hills of
the High Tatras and the doubled cross.
Czechs and Germans
The club of liberal students was founded at the faculty of law of
Charles University. The club aim at organizing the meetings with some
important personality of liberal orientation. Petr Prihoda, historical
scientist, psychoanalysist, journalist and chief-editor of "Present"
monthly magazin, advicer of Czech premier Pithart was a first guest of
the club.
He talked about relation between Czech and Germans because the
Czech-German Treaty rised a lot of discussions. He is dealing with this
topic himself for several years. He said that thousand of years of
Czech-German common living was till 19 th century withnout an important
conflict.There was understandning that all people from Bohemia and
Moravia belong to one nation not to look at ethnic aspects. Czechs and
Czech Germans always stayed together to protect themselves against
strange Germans. This happend for example during peers's revolt in
1618-1620. A new wave of missunderstanding came in the beginning of 19
th century because of nationalism. The situation became worse after
ambicious national efforts of Czechs inside Austrian-Hungarian monarchy.
Petr Prihoda sees many common aspects with the effort of Slovakia now.
The indepedent Czechoslovakia was declared in 1918. 3 million of German
are named Sudeten Germans according to mountains in the border area.
They insist on authonomy but the negotiation with the Czech governemnt
were not succesfull. The republic existing between two wars was despite
the democrasy unjust to Germans. The economic crisis hit more the
industry in border areas bounded in export than the industry inside the
country. Sudeten Germans were in diffucult social situation. Hitler
solved the social problems by offering new jobs in military industry at
this time. His popularity in Sudeten area enlarged. Henlein's party of
Sudeten Germans became the most powerfull party. Step by step this party
was going to be a tool in Hitler's hands. There was no time for
negotiation with Czech government . After Munchen Agreement the Czech
border areas are broken from and in half an year the rest of Czech
territory occupied. Many Czechs had to leave border area at this time.
Petr Prihoda said that German occupation regime had the influence on
supressed Czech soul forced to colaboration with Germans.The hatred was
gathered and was not naturally ventilated. All gatehered hatred
exploited after liberation. The blood retaliation got the name of "wild
transfer". Young Czechs went to countryside armed with hunters'
shotguns. Germans are expeled ,beaten and killed.This happened before
official transfer's calling. Official tranfer was based on Postupim
Treaty and exercised the principial of collectiv blame. Old people,
women and children especially suffered because men were killed in war or
stayed in prisoners' camps. The number of tranfer's victims is not known
yet but it is estimated to dozens of thousands.
All matter could not be discussed. We still miss information about
it. The transfer of Sudeten Germans is for us moral fail that we tried
to forget. Even today we don't want to know the truth. The
uncompromistic statements still appear. But it is our own interest to
find the truth, accept this heritage and admit our blame. Otherwise the
transfer will become our trauma forever.
The Prosecuting of the Journalists
The chief editor of Rude pravo and his deputy were arrested on
Monday morning. They are accused at deception and dirty
competition. They are suspected ot the 24 million Kcs transfer to
Rude pravo although the money had to go to state. Rude
pravo newspaper has the highest circulation in Czechoslovakia.
The editors announced they would complain in international
federation of journalists for the try of independent press'
limitation.
Helsinky in Bratislava
Helsinki civil gathering will organize international conference in
Bratislava on March 26-29. The conference will concern nationalism and
racism.
Bata in Prague Again
Prague's house of shoes was opened after reconstruction on March 13. The
house was named after Bata, owner of world-wide known company who was
born in Zlin. Season's, ladies', men's, chidren's and world shoes are
located in different stores. A big que in the front of the building
proved that such a store was missing for a long time.
UNIVERSITY
English club
"How many languagges you know, so many times you are a human being".
With this saying adviced Jan Amos Komensky to learn languagges.
Especially now when we have the possibilities of scholarships abroad we
need to study languagges. Every possibility of languagge skills'
improvement is welcomed. V. Trojan and M. Potucek from the faculty of
social sciences initiated the foundation of English club. The club
started its activity on March 10 . His members gather every Tuesday at
18 o'clock at the faculty of Social science in Smetanovo nabrezi 6. Club
is opened to all students and teachers of the faculty and their guests.
A lot of things are discussed. Of course English is spoken. The guests,
journalists, artists, diplomats are coming. Lessons and cultural
evenings are being prepared. Fred Williams from California is the
club's secretary who cares of it. The club aims at the improving of
languagge skills and cultural outlook. You can help as well to come to
us or invite interesting people.
CULTURAL SERVICE
Stop to fascism, communism and racism
On March 14 not only demonstration for independence took place in
Bratislava. While the division of Czechoslovakia was promoted at SNP
square, the Primacial square became a place of fight for common state.
But different means were used. Agency "Music 90" together with Human
movement and Civil-Democrtatic Youth organized a concert "Stop fascism,
communism and racism". The Charter 77 and magazin "Maxisuper" sponsored
the concert. The policemen had to protect the participants few times
against members of skin-head movement. The mussician groups "Zeme zluc"
from Brno, New Bred, Useless Effort, Stone AE, Bronx from Bratislava,
Sebastians form Prague and M.Ch. Band. "However we don't care of policy,
we wanted to express our opinion. We are gratefull to the police that
the concert went on so good" said one of the organizers after the
concert.
Club at Petynka
Other club in Prague 6 is club in Petynka. It is located on former
building of francis' order. It was the best place to listen to folk
music before revolution. Then Michal Jup Konecny founded a rock club
there. The main manager, Jitka Vesela, said that the space was given
especially to alternative groups. The concerts visit young people in the
age range from 15-25. Starting musicians groups have a chance to use
also training room. Monthly 12-15 concerts are held. They are visited by
a lot of poeple, sometimes 300 come.
The activity is sponsored by Local house Prague 6. They get finances
from seminars concerning law, rules etc. too. The club in Petynka is
very known but the building should be given back to francis' order
according to resitution law. Loca house in Prague 6 promised to arrange
other building.
Prague's Spring is Prepared
The musician fest "Prague's spring" will be opened in May 12, 1992 by
symphonic poem "My country" by Bedrich Smetana. His work will be played
by Czech Philharmony under conduction of Zdenek Kosler. This year a new
conception is prepared. The scala of introduced compositions is wider
and goes further to the history. A lot of top ansambles playing the
anccient music will participate. Firstly the Gregorian's choral will be
introduced in Prague's Spring. The part of fest will be musician
competition of violin, horn, trumpet and thrombon players starting from
1 st of May.
The concert held to celebrate the opening of Rudolfinum is already
sold out. Rudolf Fiskurny will play the piano. Also tickets for the
concert of violonist Josef Suk and piano player Mauruzius Pollini can't
be obtained.
Prague's Spring will take place in 17 concert halls. The Festoval
wants to be noncommercial. With the help of sponzors the prices of the
tickets are approximitelly the same as in the last year. The main
sponsors are Motokov, Metrostav and Konstruktiva. Some concerts are
prepared together with local authorities.
WEATHER
Last week the winter weather appeared again. The weather was cloudy and
rainy, there was snow on Saturday. The temperetore fell to 4-6 degrees
of Celsius during a day and to zero point at night. The weather
forecasts announced spring's weather coming back. The temperature should
be 9-11 degrees of Celsius.
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